Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-15
OFFICE CHAMBER OF CoMMERCE,
pr,rFRcpI-pG limo II 1887 4

To the Prcsidcnt Of the Uambcr ot
Commerce, PCtcrsbuTY, V0.:
Relative to the letter of the Chamber
of Commerce, Richmond. Va. referred
by you to us, We submit the following
l. "What, in your judgment, con
stitutes capital ?"
TO this we answer: Money or other
property used as such and owned 10y
The party. If borrowed, We do not con
slider it capital, save as the property of
him from whom borrowed.
2. Chow did you arrive at it"
Answer: Under oath.
3. "What general rule would You
suggest for ascertaining the capital in
any business, whether owned in part or
whole, or borrowed III part or whole ;
also, in cases where the party buys en-
tirely on credit"
This question is answered by replies
TO the others-yiz., that We do not con
slider money in the hands of the bOr-
rover as capital, and therefore asccr-
tain only under oath. 70 get clear OF
what to many is troublesome matter
viz, what is capital ?-we suggest tax
on all purchase as the best plan to the
Commonwealth and citizen, though we
recognize here the inequality of burden
owing to the difference in profit OF the
various grades of trades.
Respectfully submitted.
TSigned] r. Il. ARLINGTON,
ROBERT II. HILL,
CHARLES COHEN,
WILLIAM l.. XIMMER,
W. T.. DEATON,
Committee.
Mr.. Cringan asked if this matter was
still before committee.
The Chair Yes sir before the Com
mittee on Information and Statistics.
Mr.. X. H. Whitlock said that no
progress could be made until answers
to these intcrrogatories came III.
Next there came up a general dis
cussion as to the City Attorneys CON
struction of the city ordinance. and the
sentiment seemed to be that the laws,
both city and State, should be made
clearer.
THE MONITORS.
The president called the attention of
the Chamber to the desirability of get
ting the monitor fleet now at City Point
located near Richmond.
The matter was discussed by Messrs
John W. Cringan, j. l.. Apperson, and
Il. ID. Adam, and Judge Christian.
Referred to the Committee on I'm
provement of James River ION motion
of Mr.. II. II. Whitlock), to inquire into
the whole matter-that Is, whether 1t is
desirable to have the gunboatS here II
so, to report as to how best to set about
having them ordered up.
Some of the members doubted if
James river at Richmond afforded
enough depth of water for the
monitors also, whether there is
enough room at or near Richmond for
anchorage ground.
NEW MEMBERS.
Vaughn d Sarvay were elected
members of the Chamber, on motion
of Mr.. l.. Levy. Adjourned.
THEIR VIEWS.
Ii would be great pleasure TO our
people to have the ironclad fleet re-
moved here from its present anchorage
at City Point but the three questions
to be considered arc :
Can these vessels pass over the bars
between here and City Point?
Is there plenty of room for them to
anchor in the river without obstructing
navigation ?
Will the authorities at Washington
consent to the change?
This last is probably the great ques-
tion. d,
1t is believed that the officers and
men of the fleet would prefer to be near
Richmond.
All the chambers of commerce in the
State have been requested to give
their views on the questions answered
by the Petersburg chamber. When
they have all spoken the Richmond
chamber with their assistance) VIII
present to the General Assembly OF
Virginia petition asking for such
cbal. ges in the tax-laws As will make
them more comprehensive anu qulta-
bic. The movement had its origin,
though in another shape, in the Staun-
ton chamber. =,
The Grain and Cotton Exchange and
the Tobacco Exchange will each ap'
point such committee as the cham
ber's on the subject of the Washington
Constitutional Celebration and Exposi-
ton. These auxiliary committees VIII
be called into consultation with the
Boardof Promotion at Washington, and
will see that Richmond's interests are
well represented and protected.
The Constitutional Celebration oc-
cuis in 1889 the Exposition in 1892.
aAa mt.